BLT Market, again

We went to BLT Market again tonight. It's our second time since it opened this summer. We liked it so much we changed our reservation for today (with Scott and Jory) from one of our other favorites, Sfoglia on the EUS. This will be our last dinner before we leave for Paris on Friday or six weeks . This really made us think about what makes a "good" restaurant--one that we would want to.

At the very least it has to have good food and an interesting menu. BLT Market qualifies on both counts. Chris and I "fought' about whether her Starter of "Soft Shell Crab with Grilled Local Corn" was as good as my "Langoustine with Arborio Risotto" (it wasn't!) or her "Veal and Pork Meat Balls with Garlic Pomodoro Sauce" were as good as my Daily Special "5 Spiced Glazed LI Duckling" (it also didn't cut it). The sign of a good menu is the number of items we want to order but don't - for example they have a delicious sounding "Stuffed Amish Chicken Provencale" that sounds delicious but keeps getting superseded by the daily special. An interesting menu and high quality food is critical, but not enough to make us come back. The restaurant also needs a a really good ambiance. BLT Market has very comfortable tables, windows that open to the street and for right now at least an exceptionally attentive staff. This restaurant has only been open a month but even sow, we probably couldn't have gotten a reservation if it wasn't Rosh Hashanah.

All in all, we think this a really good restaurant. Not fancy, but with an excellent menu, well prepared and served by an attentive staff. This makes the 6th BLT restaurant in NY. We're not fans of the others because they seem too "trendy" and gimmicky. However, tonight will make the third time we've been here since it opened. A good choice before we leave for Paris tomorrow.

BLT Market

Ritz-Carlton Hotel
1430 Sixth Ave. (CPS)
212-521-6125